Adjustable resistance.



E. C. LARRY.

ADIUSTABLE RESISTANCE.

APPLICATION FILED IuIIE 26,1915.

1,155,826. vPIII-@m1 001.51915.

Q Q* l zo 18 2q 5 f I8 22 I I I6 \I73I26 33 *6 I7 FIGLI. I5 f I :EL i5 i fr 5125. y 'ZQII q 1 i I I 5 II l I 5 B fi Il# I* I' 3 'I lI L u IIt II' l| 2 f- FL" I L-I J I; 2

2220 I ICI 34 I7 l Ia, 55 |6\ Ylo 3.?

l5 2 1 TI IaIzz I FIC-3.2. l I7' l I I. I 2 II j 4.I Il

I viruses A I IIIIIIIIIIII l "."I'Ul more STATES ADJUSTABLE RESXSTANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed .lune 26, 1915.' Serial. No. 316.516.

To all 'whom t ymay concern Be it known that I, EDWIN C. Lanny. citizen ot' the United States, and a resident of the city of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Adjustable Resistance, ot' which the 'following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrical resistance devices more particularly of that class used in railway track circuits, and has for its main object to provide a simple and efiicient device of this character having a Wide range of adjustment adapting` it for use in various situations as a standard resistance device.I and with batteries of relatively lower and higher potential, such as potash' and storage batteries.

Other objects and advantages will appea as the description ot the invention progresses, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

ln describing the invention in detail, reference is had tothe accompanying); drawing. wherein l have illustrated a preferred physical elnbodin'ient of `my invention, and wherein like characters ot' reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which: v

Figure l is a partly broken out side elevation of the improved resistance device showing it adjusted Jfor use with low potential or potash batteries; Fie. 2 is a partly broken out side elevation showing the device adjusted tor use with storage batteries ci* higher potential; Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the parts adjusted as in Fig. '2: Fig. l is a bottom plan view ot the device; Fig. 5 is an enlarged. top perspective view of the adjustable contact; Fig. S is a' detail vertical transverse section taken on the line uw@ in Fig. l, and Fig. 7 is a detail top perspective view of the adjustable Contact and its innnediate supports.

The numeral L indicates the block or body portion ofthe resistance device. which may be made 'of porcelain or other insulatingr material. vThe bloclchas oppositeend lugs 2 receiving' screws 3, fastening it to any suitable support if, in proper relation to any electrically controlled structure to have the current actuating it passed conveniently through the resistance device. The block l. also has opposite end holes or bores which connected to permit an electric current any suitable are enlarged at the hott recesses G, in which lit in non-revoluble .screw binding ion each ot which is placed in I l top recess ot the upwardly projected end of the block l, a rectangular conducti c 'asher Sh having at its inner an open eye or channel l0, into which is soldered one terminal of the resistance wire coil. The terminal All, of theopenly coiled bare resistance wire portion l2, to the washer 9l0. on the post S, and the terroinal i3, of the closely coiled .'.rcvered :'ir d or constant resistance wire portion li, is secured to the washer EFW-i0, on post The coil portions l2, lei. are rcspectivV made of coarser and finer wire and i inner adjacent convohitions are conductiv to pass from the post 7. to post 8., through the entire resistance coii il, lf3. i l

Each bindii'ig post carries a below a nut- 16, above which are tw washers l?, i8. outside which is 'iastening nut i9, and a lock nat 20. whereby portions 2l, 2:33, orf a line wire inav be clamped between the. washers i?. 115. the respective postsa 7, in Conductive relation with the washers 9--la and the resistance coil portions l2, li. The longer coil pourtion 12, of coarser bare wire is wrapped around the central reduced substantially rectangular part of the block i, and is practically buried within ,grooves 33, 'foi-ined at its opposite side faces.y but the bodily over-lies the ungroo uppers/tipje ci" the xssive crossing;Y convoiublock-piliers its suer tions are paralel fitti each other and lie a right angles with opposite faces of the bloei-. as shown in Fig. et, or the drawingsr shows that the coi'ivolutions ot wire ccil portion l2, in passing; troni one block side lgroove Q3. to its nent side eroove range through oblique grooves Qi, :termed in the lower edge ot the block thereby permitting 1G the above nanied trnc right-angular disposal oi' the coil convolutions at the upper edge or the block to allow a saper-posed longitudinally adjustable narrow contact 'ifto engage any two adjoining convolutions o" coil portion l2. at tour points, as hereinafter more At'ully expiained. y he block grooves i" i l ablyv filled over l" over. is not applied to the unburied or projrrting coil contact portions aat the un- `moored upper `edge of the block. The longer coarser coil portion lill, and the shorter finer coil portion 14, offer substantially similar resistance to passage oigan electric current, which for a track circuit may be about two ohms. As the coil portion 12, has about twenty spaced convolutions passing over the top of the block 1, a shifting of the superposed adjustable con-4 tact the distance between. any two con-v i'olutions will cut out of or into the line a proportionate resistance of one-tenth ohm. thus permitting nicet,7 of resistance ad- Iiustinent as any special circuit conditions may suggest or require.

The contact 25, is a transversely ranging` .craiductive metal 'strip whose upwardly praised central part underlies the cross bar ol? a. U-shaped resilient metal support, 26. and may have two central upwardly projecting enge flanges 27, 27, litting opposite edges of the support. The Contact also preferably nastwo upturned edge flange portions which 38, 28, at each curved end part makes contact with the convolutions wire coil 19,. Both parts 25, 26, lit By, upon the reduced end of an adjusthold it and the support to the viable screw. This screw is threaded into the central bore of a guide 30, which mainly underlies a transversebar 31, having a slot 32, through which the screw freely passes. At each end the guide has twoV spaced uptuined and indent lugs 33, 33, and the two'pairs of lugs inclose opposite edge portions of the bar 31, to maintain true sliding engagement of the -guide therewith. The two pairs of lugs 33, also receive be? tween them. the resilient upwardly projecting opposite limbs of the U-shaped support "vents turning of the `Contact 25 26, whereby the engagement' of both support limbs with the pairs of guide lugs 33, preand its support 26, upon the screw 29,' and thus maintains the contact ,at true right-angular rela,- tion to 'the resistance block 1, and parallel with theconvolutions of the wire coil 12, thereon. he opposite resilient limbs of the support '.,"niay freely slide4 vertically between the pairs of lugs 33, at opposite edges lo" the supporting; har 31. The screw 29, preferably has a milled head 3l, and also carries jam-nut 35, lockingr igainst the bar 3i, after the contact carrying guide 30, has. been properly adjusted on the bar to cnt in or out any desired amount of resistance by movement oi' the Contact 25 to 'proper conyolutions of the coil l2. Each of the upturned concave-convex ends of contact 25, normally engage or bridge any adlioiningr two eonif'olutions ot' the resistance coil lil, 'with which descent-act thus has which-is headed over upon the four 'points of engagement, as shown in Figs. l. 2 and (i, of the drawings, thereby positively maintaining,r current conductivity between the Contactl and the coil even it one or two of said points have a more or less uncertain engagement with the coil.

The hole at one end portion ot' the bar 3l will fit either binding post 7, 8, to which it may be fastened under the washer 15, by"

30, on the bar 31, the resiliency oil thc bar also assures consideral'ile frictional pressure of the contact E25, upon and across the ronvolutions of coil 12, to remove lroin both Contact and coil any dust, dirt or oxid accumulations and thus easily niaiutain the best possible conductivity between the con tact and the coil. The upturned contact flanges 28, prevent edgewise catching ol' the reciprocating contact upon the coil convolutions'during lthis surface cleaningr operation. lVli'en the bar 31, is fixed to the post 7, as shown in Fie. 1, of the drawings, the current from a weaker potash battery entering by line wire portion 2l, will traverso 4' post 8, 1ts.'washer 9, the terminal 11, ot coil 1Q, and any number of couvolutions of said coil which may lie between the terminal ll, and the contact 525 and through said contact and screw 29, and ,guide 30, to the bar 3l. and the post 7, to the other portion 522, ol the line wire.. During; this operation of the resistance deyice the fixed or constant rcsistance coil portion 14A, ,is cut out of thc line wire circuit which thus meets resistance only through the active,convolutions of thc coil portion 12, and this resistance may be nicely 'aried by one-tenth ohio. as lilcsired. by changing the position of the contact 25, upon the bar 3l. Should a greater resist` ance than two ohnis be desired. as when storage batteries are used. the. bar 51. will be fixed to the post 8. shown in Fig. 2 ol the drawings. and the current now enteriingy at line wire portion 22, will traverse post 7, its washer 9, the terminal 13, of the resistance coil portion 14, and necessarily through the whole of said coil portion., and thence through any one or more ot' the con volutions of the coil portion 1Q, wl -ch may then lie between said coil portion lf-i. and the properly adjusted contact Q5. and troni said routact through the screw and guide 30, to the bar 31, and post 3, to line wire portion 21. By. thus supporting' the contact carryH ing bar 3l., upon the post 8. a inininiuni rcsistance of two ohms offered by the coil portion 14, is always available, and lo this .fixed or constant resistance may be added any further desired resistance up to the two ohins offered by the entire coil portion l2, or a stun total of `four ohins resistance. rlhis added resistance is nicely adjustable by `ofi-adations of one-tenth ohm substantially as when the bar 3l is iixed to the other binding post 7. nly siicli.pa1ts of the open coil l2, which pass over the upper edge of the insulating block l, needs he bare or uncovered, and means other than the sercw '29 and nut 35, may be used 'to bind the adjusted parts 25,A 26, 30, 'to the contact carryingbar 3l, as will readily be understood.

Although l have particularly described the construction of one physical embodiment of my invention, and explained the operation and principle thereof; nevertheless, .l desire tohave it understood that the forni selected is merely illustrative, but does not exhaust the possible physical embodiments of the idea of .means underlying invenv tion.

What claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. fan adjustable resistance comprising an insulating block, two binding posts thereon, two connected resistance coils on the block in circuit with the respective biL din posts,

- one coil having open or spaced bare convolutions. a bar adjustable to either post and ranging along the coils, and e Contact ad* justable on the bar to eonduetively engage different convolutions of the open coil.

2. An adjustable resistance comprising an insulating block, two binding posts thereon, two connected resistance coils on the block, one coil of bare wire having open or spaced convolutions inv circuit with one binding post, and the other close coil of covered wire being arranged at one end of the bare wire coil and in Circuit with the other binding post, a bar held to one 'of the posts and ranging along the coils, and a contact adjustable on the bar to couductively eng-gage di'li'erent convolutions of the open coil.

3. An adjustable resistance comprising` an insulating block, Atwo binding posts thereon, two connected resistance coils on the block, on coil having open or spaced bare convo l'utious in circuit with one binding post and the -other coil haring closely wound insulated convolutions in circuit with the other binding post, a bar conduetively connected to one of the posts and ranging along the coils, and' a Contact adjustable on the bar to coiuluctively dilerent courolutions of thc open coil.

l. An adjustable resistance comprising an insulating block, two binding; posts thereon, two connected resistance coils on the bloei;l in circuit with the respective binding posts, one coil having open or spaced bare @onrolutions and the other coil having closely wound insulated convolutions in circuit with the other binding post, a. bar conduetively connected .resistance coils on the block, one

coil of bare wire havin open or spaced con- Yolutions in circuit with one binding post and entering said side and lower edge grooves of the block and ranging across its upper edge at right angles to the side wallsfof the block; and. the other coil being t 'ranged at one end the open coil and in circuit with the other binding post, a bar lie/d to one of the posts and ranging along tl e coils, and a'centeet adjustable on the bar to conductirely engage different upper convolutio ,s of the open coil.

, t. in adjustable resistance comprising an insulating block, two bindings posts thereon, two connected resistance coils on the block in circuit with sthe respective binding posts, one coil having open or spaced bare conifoluti'ons, a hair adjustable to either post' and ranging alone tho coils, and a' Contact adjustable on 'oar and having ends each ngaging two cenvolutions of the open'coil and therewith haring four points of engageinent at any desired adjustment of the. contact along the bar. l

An adjustable resistance comprising an insulating block, two bindingr posts thereon, two connected resistance coils on the block in circuit with the" respective binding,r posts, one coil having open or spaced. bare conrolutions, a bar held to one of the posts and rangirngl along the coils, and a contact adjustable on the bar and having; opposite end parts engasing the open coil, said contact also havii' Y, upturned edge flanges at its coil engaging portions permitting unobstruct-ed reciproeation of the loosened 'con'- tact along the bar and coil Yfor cleaning engaging surfaces of the Contact and coil.

o. An adjustable resistance comprising an insulating block, ifo binding posts thereon, two connected resistance coils on the block in circuit with the respective binding posts,

one coil havingV open or spaced baro con tact along the bar and coil for cleaning engagging surfaces of the contact and coil.

Sl. An adjustable resistance comprising an insulating' block, two binding posts thereon, a bared resistance coil on the bissl; in circuit with the binding posts, a bar held to one ol the posts and rangingalong the coil, a. sliding,r guide. having end flanges engagingi opposite edge portions ol' the bar, a sup* port having ends vertically movable on the end flanges of the guide, a Contact b'elov.'Y the support, and means holding the contact to the support and also holding the guide to the .bar and permitting adjustment of the contact to different convolutions of the coil.

l0. An adjustable resistance comprisingY an insulating block, two binding on, a 1cared resistance coil on the block in circuit with thebinding posts, bar held to one ol' the posts and ranging along the coil, a sliding guide having end flanges engaginit;l opposite edge portions ci' the bar, support having ends vertically7 movable on the end flanges of the guide, a contact belouv the support, and a screw and nut holding` the contact to the support and also holding the guide to the bar and permitting' adjustment ol the contact tov different convolutions ot' the coil.. i

ll. An adjustable resistance comprisingl an insulating blocli,t\vo binding posts thereon, tivo connected resistance coils on the block circuit with the respective binding posts, one coil having open or spaced bare iconvolutions, a bar held to one ofthe posts and ranging along the coils, a. sliding guide having end tlanges engaging opposite edge p rtions of the bar, a support having ends vertically movable on the end flanges of the guide, a contact below vthe support, and means holding the contact to the support, and also holding the snide tothe bar and perinitting,` adjustment or `the contact to difilerent spaced convolutions oi the open coil.

l2. An adjustable resistance comprising an insulating block, tivo binding posts there on, bored resistance coil on the block in circuit with the binding posts, bar held to one ot the posts and .ranging along the coil, a sliding7` guide havingend i'ianges engaging opposite edge portions of the bar, a support having ends verticallyv movable on tln flanges ol the guide, a contact below lilac port, and means holding;` the contact to ne support and also holding the` guide to the bar and permitting adjustment of the contact to dill'erent convolutions of the coil; said contact ha ving; central upturned flanges nnbracing opposite edges of the support.

s s there- 13. An adjustable resistance comprising an insulating block, t vo binding,r posts thereon. a bared resistance coil on the block in circuit with the binding posts, a bar held to one of the posts and ranging alongr the coil,

a sliding guide having end flanges engaging opposite edge portions of the bar, a support having ends vertically movable on the end lane'es of the guide, a contact below the lsupport, and means holding the Contact to the support and also holding the guide to 'i0 the bar and permitting adjustment oi the contact to ditlerent convolutions ot the coil,

j said contact hafing shaped ends engaging convolutions of the coil and .provided with upturned edge flanges yperinitting snob 75 structed reciprocatior. of the loosened contact along the bar and coil for clcaniinbY engaging surfaces of the Contact and. coil.

14. An adjustable resistance comprising an insulating bloclgtivo binding posts there 30 on, tivo connected resistance coils on the clock in circuit with the respective binding posts, one coil having open or spaced bare convolutions, a bar held to one ot the posts and ranging along the coils, a sliding guide S5 posts, one coil having open or spaced bare convolutions, a bar held to one of the posts and ranging along,` the coils, a sliding; guido having end flanges engagingepposite edi a portions of the bar, a support having cues verticallyv movable on the end flanges of the 3.05

tguide, a Contact below the means holding' the contact and also holdi the giilidc .i f th bar yand permitting adiusf i Wt of fr ntact to different spaced conv i l ions o :he said contact having shaped support, and be support en d s engaging' convolutions of the open coll and provi ded with upturned edge flanges permitting uni obstructed reciprocation olE the loosened con' tact along the .bar and coil for cleaning en- 115 gaging surfaces of the contact and coil..

' EDT-NEN LARRY the s pport 0o open coil; 

